Congressional Record: March 20, 2005 (Extensions)
Page E517
COMMENDING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE FOR ANALYSIS AND
PRODUCTION, MARK M. LOWENTHAL UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM FEDERAL SERVICE
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HON. RUSH D. HOLT
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Mark M.
Lowenthal, Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and
Production, who will soon retire from government service for a second
time. His first career with the government saw service in both the
congressional and executive branches. He began his career with the
Congressional Research Service (CRS) after earning a Ph.D. in history
from Harvard University. His intelligence, quick wit and ability to
work easily with Members of Congress, their staffs, and colleagues in
the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division at CRS led to his
steady advancement in that organization.
As a result of his work as a foreign affairs specialist during this
period, Mark was asked to accept a position in the executive branch, at
the Department of State. There, he served in the State Department's
Bureau of Intelligence and Research, as both an office director and a
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. He became one of former Secretary
of State George Shultz's close advisors during a time of great change
in US-Soviet relations, during the era of Glasnost.
After Secretary Shultz returned to private life, Mark returned to the
legislative branch. He became one of a select group at the Library of
Congress and attained the position of Senior Specialist in U.S. Foreign
Policy. This helped prepare him for his next assignment when he was
asked to accept the appointment as staff director of the House
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 104th Congress (1995-
1997). It was during this time that he directed the staff of the
committee in their study of the future of the Intelligence Community,
IC21: The Intelligence Community in the 21st Century.
Soon after the study was completed, Mark retired from government.
Over the next five years he spent time in the private sector as a
consultant to government and industry on intelligence issues. Once
again, as a result of his work and deep knowledge of intelligence
issues, Mark was asked to accept another position in the executive
branch, this time on the staff of the Director of Central Intelligence.
He initially served as Counselor to the Director and then in June 2002
began his service as the Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for
Analysis and Production as well as Vice Chairman for Evaluation on the
National Intelligence Council.
In truth, three years is simply not enough time to make fundamental
changes in government. However, Dr. Lowenthal has made a good start,
initiating a variety of projects that have the potential to improve the
practice of analysis by the Intelligence Community. In collaboration
with the principal members of the National Security Council, Mark
provided the leadership required to have the Intelligence Community
adopt the National Intelligence Priorities Framework. The framework
provides guidance on the priorities of the most senior national
policymakers for collection requirements, analysis and production and
the allocation of resources to include acquisition decisions affecting
all members of the Intelligence Community. He then instituted a
comprehensive evaluation to assess the Community's performance. Along
the way, Mark found time to write a novel, to win a championship on the
game show Jeopardy!, and to teach university courses.
The American public is fortunate to have individuals with experience,
energy and intelligence willing to serve our country in these critical
times. I thank Mark for his service to our country and wish him, his
lovely wife Cynthia, and their children, Sarah and Adam, all the best
as he embarks upon this second retirement.
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